Comprehensive multi-omics analysis uncovers a group of TGF-β-regulated genes among lncRNA EPR direct transcriptional targets

Abstract Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can affect multiple layers of gene expression to control crucial cellular functions. We have previously demonstrated that the lncRNA EPR, by controlling gene expression at different levels, affects cell proliferation and migration in cultured mammary gland cells and impairs breast tumor formation in an orthotopic transplant model in mice. Here, we used ChIRP-Seq to identify EPR binding sites on chromatin of NMuMG mammary gland cells overexpressing EPR and identified its trans binding sites in the genome. Then, with the purpose of relating EPR/chromatin interactions to the reshaping of the epitranscriptome landscape, we profiled histone activation marks at promoter/enhancer regions by ChIP-Seq. Finally, we integrated data derived from ChIRP-Seq, ChIP-Seq as well as RNA-Seq in a comprehensive analysis and we selected a group of bona fide direct transcriptional targets of EPR. Among them, we identified a subset of EPR targets whose expression is controlled by TGF-β with one of them—Arrdc3—being able to modulate Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition. This experimental framework allowed us to correlate lncRNA/chromatin interactions with the real outcome of gene expression and to start defining the gene network regulated by EPR as a component of the TGF-β pathway

Outstanding effects on antithrombin activity of modified TBA diastereomers containing an optically pure acyclic nucleotide analogue

Herein, we report optically pure modified acyclic nucleosides as ideal probes for aptamer modification. These new monomers offer unique advantages in exploring the role played in thrombin inhibition by a single residue modification at key positions of the TBA structure

Cryogenic thermal detectors as a powerful way to analyse internal activities

Abstract The Milano group is using an array of four crystals of TeO 2 , 334 g each, to search for neutrinoless double beta decay of 130 Te [A. Alessandrello et al., Phys. Lett. B 335 (1994) 519; Proc. 4th Int. Workshop on Theoretical and Phenomenological Aspects of Underground Physics — TAUP 95, to be published in Nucl. Phys. B (Proc. Suppl)]. The detectors are operating in a dilution refrigerator installed in the Underground National Laboratory of Gran Sasso specially built with low activity materials. Due to the low external background and the good energy resolution it is possible to obtain precise measurements of some internal contaminations of the detector itself. An analysis of a contamination of 210 Po and of the decay of 123 Te is presented

Preliminary results on double beta decay of 130Te with an array of twenty cryogenic detectors

Preliminary results on double beta decay of 130 Te obtained in the first run of an array of twenty cryogenic detectors are presented. The set-up is made with crystals of TeO of 340 grams each corresponding to the largest presently operating 2 cryogenic mass. It was run under a heavy shield in the Gran Sasso Underground Laboratory at a depth of about 3500 m.w.e. By recording the pulses of each detector in anticoincidence with the others a 90% c.l. lower limit of 5.6 = 10 22 years has been obtained on the lifetime for neutrinoless double beta decay of 130 Te in a preliminary test run, corresponding to about one week of effective running time. No evidence is also found for double beta decay to the first excited 2 q state of 130 Xe with a 90% c.l. lower limit of 1.7 = 10 22 years on that lifetime. Some consequences of the present results in th

Present status of MI-BETA cryogenic experiment and preliminary results for CUORICINO

Present results on neutrinoless double beta decay of 130Te obtained with an array of 20 cryogenic detectors are presented. The setup consists of 20 crystals of tellurium oxide of 340 g each, corresponding to the largest presently operating cryogenic mass. Combining the results of the few runs obtained with the same array, corresponding to 1.5 kg yr, a limit on neutrinoless double beta decay half-life of 9.5]1022 yr (90% CL) has been obtained. On the basis of the results obtained with the MI-BETA experiment, we propose a construction of a 42 kg array of 56 TeO 2 bolometers (CUORICINO project) to extend the sensitivity of the present experiment, and as a "rst test for CUORE. Thanks to an innovative technique of vibration reduction and despite the high mass (750 g instead of the 340 g of the presently running detectors) we reached an energy resolution of 3.9 keV FWHM at 2615 keV decreasing to 1.4 keV at low energies. ( 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

A scintillating bolometer for experiments on double beta decay

Abstract The scintillation yields of CaF 2 crystals with different doping concentration of Europium have been measured at low temperatures and their bolometric behavior has been investigated. After these studies we have constructed the first "scintillating bolometer" where the heat and scintillation pulses produced by charged particles are simultaneously recorded. With this method a strong suppression of the background from α -particles in the energy region of interest for searches on double beta decay of 48 Ca can be achieved

Preliminary results on the performance of a TeO2 thermal detector in a search for direct interactions of WIMPS

Abstract During a Double Beta Decay experiment performed at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, a 1548 hours background spectrum was collected with a 340 g TeO2 thermal detector. An analysis of this spectrum has been carried out to search for possible WIMP signals. The values for parameters which are essential in the search for WIMPs, like energy resolution (2 keV), energy threshold (13 keV) and nuclear recoil quenching factor (≥ 0.93) have been experimentally determined and are discussed in detail. The spectrum of recoils induced by α decays has been directly observed for the first time in coincidence with the α particle pulse. Preliminary limits on the spin-independent cross sections of WIMPs on Te and O nuclei have been obtained

The bolometers as nuclear recoil detectors

Our group is involved in experiments using bolometric detectors since ten years for rare event searches like double beta decay or Dark Matter interactions. During last year, to check the quenching factor of TeO 2 bolometers, we have measured the nuclear recoils at energy as low as 15 keV in our experimental apparatus at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. Two 72g TeO 2 detectors were exposed under vacuum to a 228Ra a source that implanted on them 224Ra nuclei. The nuclei emitted by the implanted source were detected in one bolometer in coincidence with the corresponding a particles in the other. The energy spectrum of the 103.4 keV 224Ra nuclei has been obtained with an energy resolution of about 12 keV. Furthermore an a measurement of Roman lead has exploited also the sensitivity of this technique to check for ultralow activity in matter, taking advantage of the source,detector approach. A limit on the 210Pb contamination in roman lead as low as 4 mBq/Kg has been obtained. ( 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Vibrational and thermal noise reduction for cryogenic detectors

In this paper we present the excellent results obtained by mechanical decoupling of our thermal detectors from the cryostat. The starting point of this work is the necessity to improve the performances of thermal detectors and, besides, to eliminate the non-constant noise resulting from the overall cryogenic facility; this second point results to be crucial for rare-events experiments and the fundamental task for Dark Matter search. Tested on our bolometer, consisting of a 750 g tellurium oxide absorber coupled with an NTD thermistor and operated at &9 mK in an Oxford 200 dilution refrigerator, this powerful technique can, moreover, provide advantages for a large variety of thermal detectors. A good energy resolution of 3.9 keV FWHM was obtained for 2.615 MeV c-rays. The 4.2 keV average FWHM resolution for the 5407 keV 210Po a decay line is the best ever obtained for a-particles with any type of detector. ( 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

High-resolution bolometers for rare events detection

Since many years the Milano Gran Sasso collaboration is developing large mass calorimeters for Double Beta Decay and Dark Matter searches, employing TeO2 crystals as absorber elements. Recently, we have focused our attention on the improvement of the detector resolution: an efficient dumping suspension and the implementation of a new cold electronics device, have strongly suppressed the main sources of noise. The increase in SIN ratio has been of almost an order of magnitude and the resolution achieved is competitive with that of Ge diodes for gamma -rays detection, while a FWHM of 3.2 +/-0.3 keV has been obtained for 5.4 MeV alpha particles, the best result with any kind of detector. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve